Cairo, IL

[Austinlee]

Build a Bass Pro downtown and it will be fine.

[Jersey Mentality]

Originally Posted by Dralcoffin

It's always a little sad to see a small town slowly die. Cairo (pronounced kay-ro) was a booming town back during riverboat times, since it is at the junction of the Mississippi and its largest tributary, the Ohio River.

Interesting fact: Cairo, Illinois is closer to Jackson, Mississippi than Chicago.

Cairo is also farther south then Richmond, VA.

[wsxyz]

Originally Posted by VivaLFuego

.....this really is a great thread, and the fact you were there when it was foggy/dreary makes it that much better.

I agree, although that was just a bit of luck. I got to town after dark and chose to stay at the Days Inn at the Interstate exit instead of going into town. That turned out to be a wise move, as the hotel in town seemed just a bit run down when I saw it the next morning. (Of course, the Days Inn wasn't exactly a palace either)

[Cirrus]

Golly.

Does anyone else have an urge to learn to play banjo? I want to go there, sit on a porch, and add to the creep factor.

[boden]

All man's efforts in the end amount to nothing.
Good and sobering post.

[ItsConanOBrien]

One of the creepiest places I've seen posted on this forum. Such a pity. Thanks for sharing. There are some towns that are rough around the edges up this way but nothing close to this.

[jpIllInoIs]

The 2006 census shows 3,220 - a loss of 412 people or 11.5% of the population.

Originally Posted by Chicago103

Here are the population stats I found for Cairo, IL:

Year/Population/growth
1850 242 –
1860 2,188 804.1%
1870 6,267 186.4%
1880 9,011 43.8%
1890 10,324 14.6%
1900 12,566 21.7%
1910 14,548 15.8%
1920 15,203 4.5%
1930 13,532 -11.0%
1940 14,407 6.5%
1950 12,123 -15.9%
1960 9,348 -22.9%
1970 6,277 -32.9%
1980 5,931 -5.5%
1990 4,846 -18.3%
2000 3,632 -25.1%

As you can see Cairo peaking in 1920 with 15,232 people, probably about the same time many of those buildings are built, so the downtown is meant to support that many people. Its 2000 population is 3,632, which means its smaller today than it was in 1870! Its not really a ghostown but its less than 1/4 the size that it once was. Does it seem that the remaining population is in pockets or are there just people scattered everywhere giving the impression that its close to adandoned?

[Canasian]

That could be a movie set- I've seen pics of Cairo before- they should keep it like that and open it as a "Museum of downtown blight". Seriously.

[TinChelseaNYC]

I'm glad this thread made it back to Page 1 as I've never seen it before. Yikes!

[Colargol]

Wow ..I like the abadonned city .. is so sad

[detmi7mile]

my goodness...this makes parts of Detroit look like paradise

[Waterlooson]

Should be able to negotiate a good rental rate for commercial space.... I'm sure a landlord would be willing to sharpen their pencil to make a deal.

[M II A II R II K]

Originally Posted by Canasian

That could be a movie set- I've seen pics of Cairo before- they should keep it like that and open it as a "Museum of downtown blight". Seriously.

That's what I was thinking, might make for a new industry to take hold in that town.

[BigBird9]

My girlfriend is doing some missions/charity work there this summer. At first, I wondered why in the world they would travel across the country to go to some random US city.... but wow. I had no idea Cairo looked like that. I can see why it's in need of help.

[holladay]

Wow, I don't think I ever saw this thread the first couple times it passed around. For me it's more fascinating than sad, though I would like to get the know the people who live there to find out how they see it.

[lawfin]

Originally Posted by wsxyz

I was driving though Illinois last summer and decided to make a detour to see Cairo, IL. I was quite surprised by what I saw...


Apparently life has been tough since the city is no longer serves as a river port.


But some of the abandoned buildings still look ok.


There were a few cars around, but no signs of the owners, and no signs that any of the building were occupied.



Most of the city looks this



The church still looks decent, but the road is blocked


There are a few people left in Cairo. I don't have pictures, but there are some occupied houses and a functioning diner on the US Highway passing by on the outskirts of town, and right on the river, next to the levee/wall, there is a multistory government housing project that contains, I suppose, the remaining population of Cairo.

Though dilapidated the underlying style and architecture is so much more appealing than the typical modern American development. Its too bad; it seems like it could be a pleasant, sustainable, walkable style redevelopment opportunity.

The economics of the area I know are depressed......but that does not stop typical sub-division style development from cropping up. Policies should be in place to favor the reuse of areas like this instead of paving over acres for shitty sub-divisions and the roads and strip mall big box crap boxes that require those sub-divisions for their business model

[ethereal_reality]

Harbinger of things to come.


Preston Ewing Jr.


Cairo under curfew, September 1969. (racial tension)

[holladay]

Wow, thanks for posting that, ethereal.

[ethereal_reality]

Essentially racism and discrimination killed the place.
Many 1960s businesses closed rather than integrate.


Preston Ewing Jr.

You can catch a glimpse of the same building in each photo. Look for the arched doorway.


Dan on www.cyburbia.org

[le calmar]

Wow, thanks for bumping this thread! Depressing but still fascinating.